An area with lower solar insolation levels will require more solar panels to generate desired amount of electricity, whereas the location having higher solar insolation levels can produce the same desired amount of electricity with less solar panels (Please read "How to size the panels of your solar power system?")

Solar Insolation

The solar insolation is generally expressed in KWhr/m2/day, the amount of solar energy that falls on square meter of earth’s surface in a single day. It is also called Peak Sun Hours, for example, a location receives 6 KWhr/m2/day can be said to have received 6 hours of sun per day at 1 KWhr/m2. The solar insolation levels vary throughout the year, from lowest in winters to highest in summers. A location close to equator will have less difference in its insolation levels throughout the year whereas at higher latitudes the difference between the winter and summer insolation levels increases. Let us see the solar insolation level of 10 largest countries by area in the world:

The Solar Insolation is the amount of solar energy falling on the surface of the earth. The insolation levels help us in determining the size of the solar panels, which is required to produce desired amount of electricity.

Russia

Capital: Moscow

Area: 1,70,98,242 Km2

Location: \(60^o N, 100^o E\) (Northern Hemisphere)

Annual solar insolation average: 4.07 KWhr/m2/day

It is the largest country in the world, spreading across nine time zones and has wide variety of flora and fauna.

Annual solar insolation in Russia is 4.07 KWhr/m2/day

Canada

Capital: Ottawa

Area: 99,84,670 Km2

Location: 45.4º N, 75.67º W(Northern Hemisphere)

It is located in North America and shares its border with United States of America, which is the world’s longest land border.

Canada

(3) Unites states of America

Capital: Washington DC

Area: 98,26,675 Km2

Location: 38.88º N, 77.02º W (Northern Hemisphere)

It is located in the central of North America and in between Mexico and Canada.

(4) China

Capital: Beijing

Area: 95,96,961 Km2

Location: 35º N, 103º E (Northern Hemisphere)

It is located in East Asia and it is world’s most populous country.

(5) Brazil

Capital: Brasilia

Area: 85,14,877 Km2

Location: 15.78º S, 47.87º W (Southern Hemisphere)

It is located in South America and bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east.

(6) Australia

Capital: Canberra

Area: 77,41,220 Km2

Location: 35.31º S, 149.12º E (Southern Hemisphere)

It is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean and comes in Australasia.

(7) India

Capital: New Delhi

Area: 32,87,263 Km2

Location: 21º N, 78º E (Northern Hemisphere)

It is situated in the South Asia and this peninsula is the most populous democracy in the world.

(8) Argentina

Capital: Buenos Aires

Area: 27,80,400 Km2

Location: 37.18º S, 67.37º W (Southern Hemisphere)

It is located in South America. It is bordered by Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Uruguay and South Atlantic Ocean.

(9) Kazakhstan

Capital: Astana

Area: 27,24,900 Km2

Location: 48º N, 68º E (Northern Hemisphere)

It is located in the Central Asia and is world’s largest land locked country by land area.

(10) Algeria

Capital: Algiers

Area: 23,81,741 Km2

Location: 28º N, 2º E (Northern Hemisphere)

It is located in North Africa on the Mediterranean coast and 90% of its area is covered by deserts.

Observation

The countries located in the Northern Hemisphere generally have peak Insolation levels in the middle of the year

The countries located in the Southern hemisphere generally have peak Insolation levels in the starting or ending months of the year

The countries located far from equator generally have extreme insolation levels, see insolation levels of Canada or Russia.

The countries located near to the equator have less difference in their insolation levels like Brazil.